PGB Eyes Strong Growth from Industrial and Residential Developments After Record Profit Year

 

^{Paragon Globe Berhad, Executive Chairman Dato' Sri Edwin Tan Pei Seng}


KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 (Bernama) -- Johor-based property developer Paragon Globe Berhad (PGB) is positioning itself for sustained growth in the industrial and residential sectors, supported by strategic projects and Johor’s buoyant economic prospects, following a record-breaking financial performance in its recently concluded financial year.

For the financial year ended March 31, 2025, PGB achieved a remarkable net profit of RM105.6 million, reversing a previous year’s net loss of RM1.2 million. Revenue surged to RM306.3 million from RM51 million the year before, primarily driven by strategic land disposals and robust industrial property sales.

PGB’s Executive Chairman Dato' Sri Edwin Tan Pei Seng explained the strong performance was largely attributable to a RM337.3 million disposal of 67.6 acres of industrial land at Desa Cemerlang to Bridge Data Centres.

“Apart from strategic land sales, we experienced high demand for industrial developments at Pekan Nenas, significantly contributing to our earnings," Edwin Tan added. "Looking ahead, our growth will be underpinned by residential launches such as Calia Residences and The Iconic at Stulang Laut, along with continued industrial projects."

PGB recently opened its flagship RM10 million PGB Experience Gallery in Johor Bahru, aimed at enhancing customer engagement and centralising sales activities across its diverse project portfolio.

Calia Residences, PGB’s first residential development located strategically in Danga Bay, has garnered over 1,200 expressions of interest. The project is targeting GreenRE Gold certification, aligning with Johor Bahru’s sustainable urban development initiatives.

Edwin highlighted the strategic advantage of PGB’s industrial projects—Desa 27 and DESA 100—which are ideally located to leverage the burgeoning Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). These projects have successfully attracted prominent multinational tenants, including Hunter Amenities International and Meiban Technologies, through their tailored "Design-and-Build" concept.

Regarding recurring income, PGB’s 121-bed Sepang Medical Centre, developed in collaboration with Selgate Healthcare, is scheduled to commence operations in Q4 2025, with a projected rental income of approximately RM200 million over a 15-year lease. Edwin noted that the company continues to carefully evaluate various strategic options for its healthcare assets, which may include further expansion, collaborations, or monetisation, depending on market conditions and strategic alignment.

"We are actively exploring various recurring income streams beyond healthcare, such as industrial facilities, worker accommodations, and commercial assets, to diversify and stabilise our revenue," he added.

Despite global economic uncertainties, Edwin expressed optimism about Johor’s property sector, buoyed by initiatives such as the JS-SEZ and the Johor-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link.

"PGB remains committed to resilience, diversification, and sustainability, positioning ourselves to adapt swiftly and effectively to market changes," Edwin concluded.

On shareholder returns, Edwin said the company was actively reviewing its capital allocation strategy, including the possible introduction of a structured dividend policy, balancing prudent reinvestments with shareholder rewards.

"Despite global economic uncertainties, we remain optimistic about Johor’s property market outlook, driven by sustained regional growth initiatives. PGB remains committed to resilience, diversification, and sustainability, positioning ourselves to adapt swiftly and effectively to market changes," concluded Dato’ Sri Edwin.

SOURCE : Aegis Communication on behalf of Paragon Globe Berhad (PGB)

EBC Expands Multi-Asset Suite With US-Listed ETF CFDs

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- EBC Financial Group (EBC) has launched over 100 new United States (US)-listed Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) Contract for Differences (CFDs), expanding its multi-asset product suite and offering global client’s deeper access to diversified, thematic trading opportunities.

EBC in a statement said the rollout highlights its ongoing commitment to delivering institutional-grade tools across asset classes, underpinned by flexibility, transparency, and efficiency.

“This expansion reflects our vision to bridge intelligent product design with market relevance. The new products are a natural evolution for traders seeking targeted exposure with greater strategic flexibility,” said EBC Financial Group (UK) Ltd chief executive officer, David Barrett.

The new offering includes ETFs listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and Nasdaq, issued by leading asset managers such as Vanguard, iShares (BlackRock), and State Street Global Advisors. Thematic coverage spans a wide range of global macro and sectoral narratives.

The additional ETF-linked instruments cover a variety of market exposures, including geographic allocations like the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF; fixed income-focused strategies; and sector- or commodity-based indices, including the United States Oil Fund LP and the Vanguard Health Care ETF. 

These developments reflect wider industry interest in instruments that mirror trends in asset allocation without direct ownership of the underlying securities. Across many markets, sector-tilted and style-based index products are gaining relevance as participants seek flexible ways to align with global narratives.

Compared to direct ETF investments, it presents several key advantages, as traders benefit from a simplified cost structure with no traditional fund management fees or broker commissions.

The flexibility to take both long and short positions allows for strategic trading regardless of market direction, while the use of leverage enhances capital efficiency and return potential, in which these trades are executed in real time via EBC’s recognised platforms, providing seamless access to market opportunities.

-- BERNAMA

Arctic Wolf Expands into Singapore to Meet Rising Demand for AI-Powered Security Operations

Launch continues Arctic Wolf’s Asia-Pacific expansion with Ingram Micro serving as inaugural distributor in Singapore


EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., June 5 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arctic Wolf^®, a global leader in security operations, today announced its official launch in Singapore, marking the latest milestone in its ongoing expansion across the Asia-Pacific region. Trusted by more than 10,000 organisations worldwide, Arctic Wolf is transforming how businesses manage cybersecurity by delivering scalable, outcome-driven solutions through its Aurora Platform and Concierge Delivery Model. With today’s launch, organisations in Singapore can now access the company’s full suite of capabilities including Aurora Endpoint Security, Managed Detection and Response, Managed Risk, Managed Security Awareness, and Incident Response.

“As organisations struggle with the challenges of the modern threat landscape, we continue to see strong customer demand across the globe for the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform and the positive cybersecurity outcomes it delivers,” said Nick Schneider, president and CEO, Arctic Wolf. “We are excited to bring our portfolio of Security Operations solutions to the business and channel communities of Singapore and look forward to working with them to help end cyber risk.”

Organisations in Singapore face a perfect storm of cybersecurity challenges, including a rapidly evolving threat landscape, increased regulatory scrutiny, and an ongoing shortage of skilled security professionals. Arctic Wolf helps businesses of all sizes tackle these problems head on by offering a unified, cloud-native platform that pairs AI-driven threat detection with expert guidance and 24x7 monitoring from one of the world’s largest commercial Security Operations Centers.

Arctic Wolf’s partner-first go-to-market model has made it the cybersecurity partner of choice for more than 2,200 solution providers globally, including Ingram Micro, its inaugural distributor in Singapore. Designed to help resellers lead with value, Arctic Wolf’s award-winning channel program equips partners with differentiated offerings, predictable revenue opportunities, and the support needed to grow their security practice. Together with Ingram Micro, Arctic Wolf is delivering modern security operations that help customers reduce risk and improve outcomes at every stage of their cybersecurity journey.

“Arctic Wolf and its portfolio of security operations solutions are the ideal fit for our customers looking to improve their security outcomes across the entire cybersecurity framework. Recent high profile security breaches in Singapore have brought security conversations to be front of mind for executives and employees alike across the country. We are proud to be their first distributor in the Singapore region and be able to bring robust security solutions to our clients,” said Eunice Lau, executive managing director, Singapore, Ingram Micro.

Singapore Trends Highlight Urgent Security Challenges

Coinciding with the company’s Singapore launch, Arctic Wolf also released new data from its State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, offering Singapore-specific insights into the evolving threat landscape. The findings reveal that artificial intelligence (AI) outranks ransomware as the top concern for IT and security leaders in Singapore, signalling a shift in how organisations perceive and prioritize cyber risk. As emerging technologies introduce new vulnerabilities and attack vectors, the need for effective security operations has never been more critical—helping organisations detect threats earlier, respond faster, and build long-term resilience.

Other key findings for Singapore include:

• Breaches are Common and Transparency is Improving: 70% of businesses disclosed a breach in the past year as they were required to by law, while 23% did so due to requirements from their insurer or an outside entity. This indicates strong regulatory compliance and incident transparency in the country.
• Significant Attacks Remain Widespread: Malware and business email compromise were the most used methods followed by ransomware and/or data exfiltration.
• Complexities exist in current cybersecurity stacks: While respondents are satisfied with the firewall and Network Traffic Analysis (NTA) components of their security stacks, 57% cited difficult implementations as a complexity along with lack of efficacy (33%).

“The findings from our 2025 Trends Report make it clear that organisations in Singapore are under growing pressure to advance their cybersecurity maturity,” said David Hayes, Director APAC, Arctic Wolf. “From managing AI-driven risks to navigating breach disclosure and responding to ransomware, businesses need more than just point solutions, they need a partner with the breadth and expertise to drive meaningful outcomes. We’re excited to officially launch in Singapore and bring our full portfolio of security operations capabilities to help organisations reduce risk, strengthen resilience, and accelerate their security maturity.”

For additional global insights from Arctic Wolf’s State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends Report, visit arcticwolf.com.

Additional Resources:

• Join the conversation with Arctic Wolf on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube
• Visit arcticwolf.com to learn more about our security operations and endpoint solutions
• If you’re ready to get started, request a demo, get a quote, or conduct a Security Operations Maturity Assessment
• Want to join Arctic Wolf’s Partner Program? Apply today

About Arctic Wolf
Arctic Wolf^® is a global leader in security operations, delivering the first cloud-native security operations platform to end cyber risk. Built on open XDR architecture, the Arctic Wolf Aurora Platform operates at a massive scale and combines the power of artificial intelligence with world-class security experts to provide 24×7 monitoring, detection, response, and risk management. We make security work!

To learn more about Arctic Wolf, visit www.arcticwolf.com.

Press Contact:
megan.archbold@arcticwolf.com

© 2025 Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Arctic Wolf, Aurora, Alpha AI, Arctic Wolf Security Operations Cloud, Arctic Wolf Managed Detection and Response, Arctic Wolf Managed Risk, Arctic Wolf Managed Security Awareness, Arctic Wolf Incident Response, and Arctic Wolf Concierge Security Team are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc. 

SOURCE: Arctic Wolf Networks, Inc

Malaysia Named Guest Country At Chengdu Intangible Cultural Heritage Festival

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been named the guest country at the ninth International Festival of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH), taking place from May 28 to June 3 at the Chengdu International Intangible Cultural Heritage Expo Park.

The festival, co-hosted by the Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the National Commission of the People’s Republic of China for UNESCO, features nearly 600 representative ICH items in a series of exhibitions and performances.

For the first time, the festival introduces a “Guest Country + Guest City” mechanism, with Penang (Malaysia), Algiers (Algeria), Chiang Mai (Thailand), and Bari (Italy) named as guest cities, according to a statement.

Centred on integrating ICH into modern life, the event highlights the convergence of traditional culture and modern technology, showcasing innovative achievements in ICH-branded intellectual property and industry collaborations.

More than 400 participants, including cultural heritage practitioners, scholars, officials, and foreign envoys from over 60 countries and regions, are attending the event.

A special segment titled “Technology Empowering ICH” features over 30 interactive exhibits by 16 research institutions and tech firms. The displays incorporate virtual reality (VR), games, and short videos inspired by heritage elements such as silk weaving and the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West.

Since its inception in 2007, the festival has become a prominent platform for cultural exchange and heritage preservation. Chengdu, the host city, is recognised for its commitment to safeguarding ICH, with 336 items designated at the city level or above, including 25 at the national level.

Chengdu also boasts 382 certified ICH practitioners, including 21 national-level masters. The city holds over 260 public heritage events annually, drawing 300,000 participants and promoting widespread interest in cultural preservation.

Currently, Chengdu is home to 14 cultural districts dedicated to ICH and 227 traditional craft production lines. These contribute approximately 30 billion Chinese yuan in annual economic value and generate employment for over 50,000 residents. Its “Chengdu Handicraft” brand has recorded cumulative sales exceeding 400 million Chinese yuan. (100 Chinese yuan = RM59.04)

-- BERNAMA

Hong Kong and New Zealand, the easiest jurisdictions for doing business in APAC, says GBCI 2025

 

LONDON, June 4 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI), recently launched by TMF Group, analyses the business environment of 79 jurisdictions, accounting for 94% of the world's GDP. It also ranks them based on over 250 indicators of business complexity, with the jurisdiction ranked 1st as the most complex and the jurisdiction ranked 79th, the least.

Among the world’s 10 least complex jurisdictions for doing business, Hong Kong, SAR remains the 4rth easiest jurisdiction for the second year in a row. The jurisdiction offers a favourable business environment, characterised by a straightforward and low tax regime that appeals to international businesses.

New Zealand, also included in the 10 easiest jurisdictions worldwide, maintains its reputation as a straightforward place for business operations. This is largely due to the government's proactive approach in welcoming foreign investments and streamlined administrative processes.

Meanwhile, business complexity in India (18th) is mainly driven by recent regulatory changes, according to this year’s GBCI report. Over the past year, India has introduced numerous regulatory amendments aimed at boosting transparency and accountability. Although these are expected to bring benefits in the long term, they have added layers of complexity for businesses operating in the country, requiring constant adaptation to new compliance needs.

Japan is ranked 43rd in this year’s GBCI, showing a decrease in complexity from last year’s position (38th). This decrease in complexity is partly due to recent simplifications and governmental initiatives to provide English-language support to international financial service companies. These measures facilitate easier operations and reduce barriers for foreign businesses, improving investment attractiveness.

Singapore, ranking 48th, continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in its trade corridors. This jurisdiction invests heavily in technology and infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing its status as a regional hub.

China’s Mainland (10th) enters the top 10 most complex jurisdictions for businesses in 2025. According to the report, the complexity is driven by its frequent regulatory changes and regional disparities. Despite these challenges, the government continues to offer incentives to attract investment and to promote infrastructure development to enhance trade logistics.

TMF Group’s Head of APAC, Shagun Kumar, commented: “We’re seeing a growing effort by decision-makers and businesses across APAC to reduce unnecessary burdens for doing business in the region — these have in the past delayed development, leading to complex evaluations for investment. Such efforts contribute to unlocking the region’s drive towards economic growth, and we expect businesses to adapt and continue to leverage the potential of APAC as a key contributor for their global strategies.”
 

Top and bottom ten (1= most complex, 79= least complex)
1. Greece	79. Cayman Islands
2. France	78. Denmark
3. Mexico	77. New Zealand
4. Turkey	76. Hong Kong, SAR
5. Colombia	75. Jersey
6. Brazil	74. Netherlands
7. Italy	73. Jamaica
8. Bolivia	72. British Virgin Islands
9. Kazakhstan	71. Curaçao
10. China’s Mainland	70. Czech Republic

Media Contacts
Marina Llibre Martin
marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com 


SOURCE: TMF Group B.V. 

Denodo University Challenge Now Open: Data and AI for Real-World Impact

 

Challenge Calls on All Students to Demonstrate Data Management Skills, with Free, Easy-to-Use Data Management and AI Tools, to Effect Social Change


PALO ALTO, Calif., June 3 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Denodo, a leader in data management, announced that the Denodo Academic Program, which prepares students to become future leaders in the field of data and analytics, has opened registration for the next University Challenge, Data and AI for Real-World Impact, with registration closing on November 16. 

The Denodo Academic Program prepares students through virtual, self-paced training modules, live workshops, test drives of the Denodo Platform, and the Denodo AI SDK. The Denodo Academic Program launched its first University Challenge in 2023. 

Because Denodo believes in the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI), the current Denodo University Challenge focuses on the development of innovative AI-driven solutions that have demonstrable impact, showcasing how advanced data management and AI can drive meaningful, real-world innovation and new approaches to solving social and economic challenges.

Since the release of Denodo Platform 9.1 in November of 2024, the Denodo Platform has included powerful new capabilities that simplify the development of AI applications: Denodo Assistant, which automates key data engineering tasks and delivers contextualized insights and intelligent recommendations, and the Denodo AI SDK, which handles processes such as data embedding, transformation, and orchestration, so developers can focus more squarely on outcomes.

This Challenge encompasses the typical phases in a data project: Integrate, Manage, and Deliver. In the Integrate phase, participants will use Denodo Express, the free version of the Denodo Platform, to connect the datasets and start to create virtual views of the connected data. In the Manage phase, participants will then start to build data governance rules around these views, and begin to map out a design for their AI solution. Finally, in the Deliver phase, participants will put the AI solution into action to solve the challenge. Participants will be judged by their ability to integrate, manage, and deliver the data in the most efficient manner, to build an AI solution that solves a real-world problem.  

“With the Denodo Platform, developers can seamlessly create powerful AI applications without the usual hurdles of data preparation,” said Alberto Pan, chief technology officer at Denodo. “This University Challenge is an exciting opportunity to witness the innovative solutions students will develop. I am eager to see how they leverage our tools to drive real-world impact and showcase the transformative power of AI."

Prizes will be awarded to the three top-performing teams, as well as to the university that participates with the highest number of teams. Members of the winning team will receive access to unlimited on-demand Denodo training courses and certification exams for six months, worth up to $7,000, an exclusive Denodo Winner Badge – communicating proficiency to potential employers – and an invitation to assist at a local Denodo event, such as DataFest.

About Denodo

Denodo is a leader in data management. The award-winning Denodo Platform is the leading logical data management platform for transforming data into trustworthy insights and outcomes for all data-related initiatives across the enterprise, including AI and self-service. Denodo's customers in all industries all over the world have delivered trusted AI-ready and business-ready data in a third of the time and with 10x better performance than with lakehouses and other mainstream data platforms alone. For more information, visit denodo.com.

Media Contact
pr@denodo.com

Source: Denodo Technologies Inc. (“Denodo”)